Today I’m going to rant about something I’ve read about a lot, heard a lot, and seen other people rant about. Guns as personal defense tools. I’m sure that anyone who has had much contact with guns or people who love their guns have heard the caliper argument. If it doesn’t have a 4 in its name its not an effective man stopper. I disagree, the size of the bullet has less to do with the stopping power of a gun then the fear it provokes in your opponent. Any gun would make me back up regardless who was carrying it. You can die just as easily from a .22 as you could from a .45. Now I do agree that a larger caliper will stop someone faster. Hydrostatic shock is a factor but, If you have ever fired a large bore concealable firearm you know how painful it can be. Big power bullet + light weight, small barrel = massive recoil and discomfort if not pain.
The firearm you can fire without fear of hurting yourself is more effective then the large firearm you hesitate to fire.
Most of the population are afraid of guns. If you put a large bore lightweight gun in a new shooters hands the recoil may make them drop the gun. At the very least they will flinch next time they fire it. Give that same new shooter a .22 or a .25 instead for their first shots fired and they may not be as intimidated by it when and if they need to use it to defend them self. Hesitation can kill.
To me the best firearm is one you can fire comfortably without hesitation and without being afraid of it. For example, my pistol is a .40 caliper Ruger SR40C, its a lightweight chopped down concealment pistol. Recoil is workable but not pleasant. For me it is comfortable to shoot and I don’t feel like its underpowered for any task. My 180lb 5‘9“ frame handles the gun fairly easily. My wife, on the other hand, does not. She is about 95lb and 5‘2“. Her gun is a small older iAi Backup in .380. Its much too small for me to shoot with comfort. For her it is the most gun she can handle without flinching and hesitation. This pistol fits her hand well and is small enough for her to conceal on her person if she so chooses. I think that the .380 is an underpowered cartridge. I have no love of the 9mm because it is inaccurate and underpowered and the .380 is a 9mm short. That means it has even less power and accuracy then the 9mm. For her that makes it more valuable to her then if she had a full size .45. She wouldn’t carry the .45 and she wouldn’t shoot the .45 without hesitation. She also wouldn’t be able to follow up her first shot as quickly with a second shot as she would with the smaller gun that fit her hand and had a more manageable recoil. She may get off one shot with the .45 but she could get 3 off with the .380. that’s important if you have more then one assailant or you miss with your first shot. People are people and in the heat of the moment you won’t be as sharp or as steady as you were at the range. adrenaline makes you shaky, it makes you make mistakes. Therefore it makes sense to increase your chances by giving you more time to shoot again. a well fitting gun with controllable recoil gives you that time. Some people can fire a .45 or a .357 or a .44 mag with that speed but I can’t and neither can my wife.
Everyone will have an opinion on the perfect caliper firearm. Its too personal a choice to leave up to other people. In my opinion, go to a pistol range and ask if they rent guns. Try as many as you can in different sizes calipers and designs. What works for you may not work for the person next to you. Go shooting with your gun owning friends. Any opportunity to fire a new gun is good.
Once you have picked your ideal gun practice with it, get comfortable firing it. If its a new gun be sure to break it in with at least 300 rounds of Full Metal Jacket ammunition. Guns are mass produced and parts don’t always fit perfectly. Like a new car it needs a chance to wear until the parts fit well. Keep then clean and keep them lubricated. I was taught that if it pivots oil it and if it slides grease it. Research everything and never settle for second best.
The firearm you can fire without fear of hurting yourself is more effective then the large firearm you hesitate to fire.
Most of the population are afraid of guns. If you put a large bore lightweight gun in a new shooters hands the recoil may make them drop the gun. At the very least they will flinch next time they fire it. Give that same new shooter a .22 or a .25 instead for their first shots fired and they may not be as intimidated by it when and if they need to use it to defend them self. Hesitation can kill.
To me the best firearm is one you can fire comfortably without hesitation and without being afraid of it. For example, my pistol is a .40 caliper Ruger SR40C, its a lightweight chopped down concealment pistol. Recoil is workable but not pleasant. For me it is comfortable to shoot and I don’t feel like its underpowered for any task. My 180lb 5‘9“ frame handles the gun fairly easily. My wife, on the other hand, does not. She is about 95lb and 5‘2“. Her gun is a small older iAi Backup in .380. Its much too small for me to shoot with comfort. For her it is the most gun she can handle without flinching and hesitation. This pistol fits her hand well and is small enough for her to conceal on her person if she so chooses. I think that the .380 is an underpowered cartridge. I have no love of the 9mm because it is inaccurate and underpowered and the .380 is a 9mm short. That means it has even less power and accuracy then the 9mm. For her that makes it more valuable to her then if she had a full size .45. She wouldn’t carry the .45 and she wouldn’t shoot the .45 without hesitation. She also wouldn’t be able to follow up her first shot as quickly with a second shot as she would with the smaller gun that fit her hand and had a more manageable recoil. She may get off one shot with the .45 but she could get 3 off with the .380. that’s important if you have more then one assailant or you miss with your first shot. People are people and in the heat of the moment you won’t be as sharp or as steady as you were at the range. adrenaline makes you shaky, it makes you make mistakes. Therefore it makes sense to increase your chances by giving you more time to shoot again. a well fitting gun with controllable recoil gives you that time. Some people can fire a .45 or a .357 or a .44 mag with that speed but I can’t and neither can my wife.
Everyone will have an opinion on the perfect caliper firearm. Its too personal a choice to leave up to other people. In my opinion, go to a pistol range and ask if they rent guns. Try as many as you can in different sizes calipers and designs. What works for you may not work for the person next to you. Go shooting with your gun owning friends. Any opportunity to fire a new gun is good.
Once you have picked your ideal gun practice with it, get comfortable firing it. If its a new gun be sure to break it in with at least 300 rounds of Full Metal Jacket ammunition. Guns are mass produced and parts don’t always fit perfectly. Like a new car it needs a chance to wear until the parts fit well. Keep then clean and keep them lubricated. I was taught that if it pivots oil it and if it slides grease it. Research everything and never settle for second best.
